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The estate includes a 32-room Georgian manor house and 145 acres of countryside set on the banks of the River Kennet. But locals intervened when the hedge fund manager reportedly blocked an entrance to Mill Lane. Villagers say it provides an important link to the footpath that connects the surrounding areas to the village of Kintbury and St Mary’s Church. They claim they are now forced to use a narrow country strip instead.
They say the site’s previous owner, Sir Terence Conran, never objected to the walkers or closed the gates at the end of the street. A few weeks after purchasing the property, they say, James installed electric gates 250 feet from the trail’s eastern entrance, preventing hikers from accessing the trail.
They said warning signs were later posted saying “Trespass Prohibited” and “Private: Public Access Prohibited.” The Times reported In 2024 James served a highway declaration notice stating that Mill Lane was not accessible to the public.
West Berkshire Council reportedly designated the lane as a public right of way after local walkers said the path had been freely used for more than two decades; This decision is being appealed to the Planning Inspectorate. The Ramblers Association says the road is used “to leave and return to the village of Kintbury via a safe and scenic route which eliminates the need to walk along Station Road, where there is no footpath or verge to protect pedestrians”.
Eugene Futcher, chairman of the West Berkshire Ramblers, says people have had “unrestricted access” to the strip since the 1960s. Speaking to The TimesHe said: “It’s a safe way to get to and from the village, so pedestrians are put at risk if they have to use the road.”
He says people use this trail for “decades” to “hundreds of days a year.” While the curious hiker said it was unclear why James wanted to close the trail, he believes it may have been to “protect their privacy.”
He added: “Sir Terence did nothing to deter people from using the road and kept the gate open. Emotions are quite high in the village.”
Kintbury district council heard from local people on Mill Lane. Some reportedly avoided the lane during Sir Terrence’s ownership because of a sign stating it was a “private road”, while others claimed to have used it regularly for years.
However, the district council agreed to support designating the lane as a right-of-way. The Barton Court property has been contacted for comment.
